Keralam

Keralam

Context

The Union Cabinet officially approved the proposal to rename the State of Kerala to Keralam. This decision follows unanimous resolutions passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2023 and 2024, aimed at aligning the state's constitutional name with its traditional Malayalam nomenclature.

About the News

• What it is: The approval marks the transition from the English-adopted term "Kerala" to "Keralam," the name used by native speakers.
• Legislative Step: Following Cabinet approval, the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will be processed in Parliament to formally amend the Constitution.
• Historical Context: The demand is rooted in the Aikya Kerala movement, which advocated for the unification of Malayalam-speaking regions. Since the state was formed on linguistic lines in 1956, the government argued the name should reflect its linguistic identity.

Constitutional Framework for Renaming a State

The process of changing a state's name is governed by the following constitutional provisions:

• Article 3: Empowers Parliament to form new states or alter the areas, boundaries, or names of existing states.
• The Proviso to Article 3:
  • A Bill for renaming can only be introduced in Parliament on the recommendation of the President.
  • Before recommendation, the President must refer the Bill to the concerned State Legislature to express its views within a specified period.
• First Schedule: This schedule contains the list of all States and Union Territories. Renaming a state requires an amendment to this schedule.

Step-by-Step Procedure

The renaming process involves a specific sequence of federal and state interactions:

1. State Resolution: The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution requesting the Union to change the name under Article 3.
2. Union Scrutiny: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reviews the proposal, seeking "No Objection" from various agencies (e.g., Intelligence Bureau, Registrar General).
3. Cabinet Approval: The Union Cabinet clears the proposal, allowing the drafting of the Alteration of Name Bill.
4. Presidential Reference: The President sends the proposed Bill to the State Legislature for their opinion (though the opinion is not binding on Parliament).
5. Parliamentary Passage: The Bill is introduced in Parliament on the President's recommendation and must be passed by a Simple Majority in both Houses.
6. Notification: Once the President signs the Bill, the First Schedule is amended, and the name change is notified in the Gazette.

Significance of the Change

• Linguistic Identity: Asserts the cultural and linguistic autonomy of the Malayalam-speaking population.
• Decolonization of Nomenclature: Follows the precedent of other states that changed names to reflect native heritage (e.g., United Provinces to Uttar Pradesh, Madras to Tamil Nadu, Mysore to Karnataka, and Orissa to Odisha).
• Official Consistency: Ensures that the name used in state records, literature, and daily speech matches the official Constitutional entry.

Conclusion

The transition to "Keralam" is a symbolic yet significant step in India's federal structure, honoring the linguistic principles upon which states were reorganized in 1956. By invoking Article 3, the Union and State governments are collaborating to harmonize constitutional law with regional cultural sentiment.